Capital One Impact Initiative
This Harlem chef is cooking up international dishes to strengthen his local community
10.13.20
Courtesy of FIELDTRIP
True
The COVID-19 pandemic has disproportionately affected diverse communities due largely in part to social factors such as inadequate access to housing, income, dietary options, education and employment — all of which have been shown to affect people's physical health.
Recognizing that inequity, Harlem-based chef JJ Johnson sought out to help his community maximize its health during the pandemic — one grain at a time.
Johnson manages FIELDTRIP, a health-focused restaurant that strives to bring people together through the celebration of rice, a grain found in cuisines of countless cultures.
"It was very important for me to show the world that places like Harlem want access to more health-conscious foods," Johnson said. "The people who live in Harlem should have the option to eat fresh, locally farmed and delicious food that other communities have access to."
Lack of education and access to those healthy food options is a primary driver of why 31% of adults in Harlem are struggling with obesity — the highest rate of any neighborhood in New York City and 7% higher than the average adult obesity rate across the five boroughs.
Obesity increases risk for heart disease or diabetes, which in turn leaves Harlem's residents — who are 76% Black or LatinX — at heightened risk for complications with COVID-19.
<p>"For decades, people in Harlem have been buying food at supermarkets that have been injected with antibiotics and pesticides because they can't afford healthier options at organic grocery stores," Johnson said. "Harlem isn't a food desert because it doesn't have food. It's facing food insecurity because of the food its residents have access to."</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFUwecBAnbK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFUwecBAnbK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CFUwecBAnbK/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">💯 Harlem Our FIELDTRIP family is from our community and fuels our community 🙏 . #RiceIsCulture #FIELDTRIPharlem #HarlemEats #Harlem #Community #HarlemStandUp . 📷 @brianabalducciphoto</a><br> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fieldtripharlem/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> FIELDTRIP</a> (@fieldtripharlem) on Sep 19, 2020 at 9:10am PDT<br></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>Despite his intentions to break this cycle, Johnson says the concept of FIELDTRIP was met with skepticism over concern as to whether Harlem residents would be open to trying its exotically seasoned rice bowls and salads — even if they were the healthy alternative.<br></p><p>"When I opened FIELDTRIP, many people in the community didn't think it was owned by a Black person," Johnson said. "In the heart of this pandemic, people saw me and my staff — which is primarily Black and Latinx — behind the counter and realized they wanted to support us."</p><p>While dishes from eastern cultures may not traditionally be sprawled across dining tables in Harlem, Johnson saw his hometown as the prime location for breaking down barriers within the food industry when FIELDTRIP opened in 2019.</p><p>"It's become this engraved part of Harlem that when the lights come on at FIELDTRIP, there's a sense of hope installed throughout the community," Johnson said.<br></p><p>That connection with local residents has been put on full display during this pandemic.</p><p>To maximize the restaurant's ability to feed those facing food insecurity during the pandemic, Johnson joined forces with Chef Erik Bruner-Yang who created <u><a href="https://www.powerof10initiative.com/" target="_blank">The Power of 10</a></u>. This initiative was built on the idea that if a restaurant were to receive $10,000 a week during this crisis, it could create 10 full-time jobs and provide 1,000 free meals to its direct community.</p><p>Born out of Washington, D.C., The Power of 10 partnered with <u><a href="https://www.capitalone.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Capital One</a></u> earlier this year to <u><a href="https://www.capitalone.com/about/newsroom/capital-one-joins-forces-with-the-power-of-10/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">expand nationally</a></u> to help restaurants like FIELDTRIP thrive in cities across the country such as New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, Charlotte, North Carolina, Richmond, Virginia and Fairfax, Virginia.</p><p>Since May, this partnership has helped enable The Power of 10 to donate more than 200,000 meals and provide income to workers at 38 restaurants.</p><p>"We were eager to do our part to help in this urgent and unprecedented time of need," says Andy Navarrete, Head of External Affairs at Capital One. "Restaurants play a vital role in unifying the communities we serve."</p><p>This work comes as part of <u><a href="http://capital.one/2Gl20C3" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Capital One's Impact Initiative</a></u>, an initial $200 million, five-year commitment to support growth in underserved communities and advance socioeconomic mobility by closing gaps in equity and opportunity. The Impact Initiative builds upon Capital One's core mission to change banking for good and its priorities around racial equity, affordable housing, small business support, workforce development and financial well-being.</p><p>Through this support to The Power of 10, Johnson could assist Harlem's residents in ways that weren't possible before.</p><p>FIELDTRIP began distributing free "JJ Boxes" — prepared meals that consist of organic produce from local farms in the Tri-state area. Johnson first sought to give these meals to essential workers in the area but soon expanded FIELDTRIP's offering to any people in need.</p><div class="rm-embed embed-media"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAVgCVdDJC0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="12" style=" background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:540px; min-width:326px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"><div style="padding:16px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAVgCVdDJC0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" background:#FFFFFF; line-height:0; padding:0 0; text-align:center; text-decoration:none; width:100%;" target="_blank"> <div style=" display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:550; line-height:18px;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"><div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CAVgCVdDJC0/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">#FieldTrip is a restaurant whose mission is to serve its community. In the wake of #covid19, we've been on journey to deliver meals to those in need and have now partnered with @powerof10initiative to continue doing so. Thank you @powerof10initiative for taking this trip with us. Head to powerof10initiative.com to donate. 💪🏾 #powerof10 #donate</a><br> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/fieldtripharlem/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> FIELDTRIP</a> (@fieldtripharlem) on May 18, 2020 at 9:29am PDT<br></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script></div><p>To date, this initiative has helped FIELDTRIP distribute more than 3,000 free meals.<br></p><p>"Many of these people receiving these meals had lost their jobs and had very little money," Johnson said. "The Power of 10 helped us ensure that those families still had fresh produce that they could cook at home and put a delicious dinner on the table every night."</p><p>This funding has also allowed FIELDTRIP to continue working with local farms to use the freshest ingredients possible in its meals in an effort to help Harlem residents stay healthy.</p><p>"In every community we serve, we'll look at who needs help and how we can be there for them," Johnson said. "As I expand FIELDTRIP, my goal is to make our food so affordable that people chose us over fast food every time."</p>
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Family
People are debating what 'appropriate' fatherly love looks like, and frankly, it's just sad
10.22.20
A photo of Joe Biden hugging and kissing his only living son, Hunter, is circulating after Newsmax TV host John Cardillo shared it on Twitter with the caption, "Does this look like an appropriate father/son interaction to you?"
The question is clearly meant to be a dig at Biden, whose well-documented life in politics includes many examples of both his deep love for his family and his physical expressions of affection. While his opponents have cherry-picked photos to try to paint him as "creepy," those who know him well—and who are in some of those viral images—defend Biden's expressions of affection as those of a close friend and grandfatherly figure. (And in fact, at least one photo of Biden holding and kissing a child's face was of him and his grandson at his son Beau's funeral, taken as a still shot from this video.)
Everyone has their own level of comfort with physical space and everyone's line of what's appropriate when it comes to physical affection are different, but some accusations of inappropriateness are just...sad. And this photo with this caption is one of those cases.
<div id="71931" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="016c2f267214c663336555797de89521"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319077381685055488" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Does this look like an appropriate father/son interaction to you? https://t.co/XDMIsgjUKI</div> — John Cardillo (@John Cardillo)<a href="https://twitter.com/johncardillo/statuses/1319077381685055488">1603327529.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>What people see when they look at this photo says a lot more about them than it does about the father and son in it. And the reactions on Twitter made that point crystal clear. </p><p>A therapist weighed in, saying "if anyone looks at this photo and sees anything other than father + son love, I'd recommend therapy until the person knows [the difference between] healthy + unhealthy touching."</p>
<div id="0ed6a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c6eecb9ebb902f1ef04afdeeae59cf71"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319106109911764992" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@cmclymer @johncardillo I’m a trained therapist and if anyone looks at this photo and sees anything other than fath… https://t.co/46kosz8DVj</div> — Kim C. Dickerson, M.S. (@Kim C. Dickerson, M.S.)<a href="https://twitter.com/kimcdickerson/statuses/1319106109911764992">1603334379.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Some people pointed out that this kind of affection from a father to a son is something the world needs more of, not less. </p>
<div id="6c37d" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4af3e17b45673becce5c487b1dcf61d7"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319313454470025217" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@johnpavlovitz @DeLunaVintage @johncardillo My son kisses his son, hugs him and holds him just like he does for his… https://t.co/0BI57W0kZh</div> — Coney Barrett is a DANGEROUS cultist! (@Coney Barrett is a DANGEROUS cultist!)<a href="https://twitter.com/PhoenixGirl73/statuses/1319313454470025217">1603383813.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Others just matter-of-factly said, "Umm, yes." Like, what is he seeing that he things isn't appropriate?</p>
<div id="eeaeb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="aee3e710165e30d5520bb60aa56706a3"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319192736298201092" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@kylegriffin1 @johncardillo Kyle, I couldn’t agree more! https://t.co/fX8HHEdFsi</div> — Matt From Buffalo (@Matt From Buffalo)<a href="https://twitter.com/BeerMileRepeats/statuses/1319192736298201092">1603355032.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Not that it wouldn't be appropriate if this weren't the case, but knowing the tragedy this father and son have been through adds greater context to this photo. Biden lost his wife and Hunter lost his mother in a car accident when Hunter was little. And Biden lost a son and Hunter lost his only brother in 2015 when Beau Biden died of brain cancer. </p><p>This is a father-son affection that includes a bond that only those who have shared severe loss can know.</p>
<div id="a7130" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="99d03592cbabe9ccf97991c25dc24628"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319100425161691138" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@johncardillo Hunter has lost a mother, a sister, and a brother. His father is trying to make up for that lost love… https://t.co/saS1vBwMwu</div> — Pé (@Pé)<a href="https://twitter.com/4everNeverTrump/statuses/1319100425161691138">1603333023.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Many people shared how the photo made them miss their own fathers and wish they could have one more hug or kiss from their dad. </p>
<div id="a9726" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4760dedd8ab9d98b180678d4a7ac430f"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319348738742231040" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@RedHourBen @johncardillo I would love to be able to have my father kiss me. He died 32 years ago and I miss him every day.</div> — James Fraunberger (@James Fraunberger)<a href="https://twitter.com/jamesjjf/statuses/1319348738742231040">1603392226.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p><br></p>
<div id="57ecc" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ab157e68550e25949c75dc9499506ab4"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319131898791129093" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@johncardillo Man this just makes me miss my Dad and how he’d kiss me on the cheek every time we’d say goodbye.</div> — James Gunn (@James Gunn)<a href="https://twitter.com/JamesGunn/statuses/1319131898791129093">1603340527.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p><br></p>
<div id="96a8a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3d56c46a22c76b747ad4a5a8089b094c"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319091344565030914" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@Leslieoo7 @johncardillo My father died when I was 16 years old. I’d give anything for him to be here now, holding me like this.</div> — Carlos Escondido (@Carlos Escondido)<a href="https://twitter.com/CarlosEscondido/statuses/1319091344565030914">1603330858.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p><br></p>
<div id="f601a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="d4a0c64f90b11011776f0dee0c44b060"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319096963531505667" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@jaketapper Right??? Every day, I miss my late-father's big hugs and big kisses on my cheek. Every time he picked m… https://t.co/e7p2Dqrpo0</div> — Eric "Halloween Name" Schmeltzer 🇺🇸 (@Eric "Halloween Name" Schmeltzer 🇺🇸)<a href="https://twitter.com/JustSchmeltzer/statuses/1319096963531505667">1603332198.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>In addition to pointing out the hypocrisy of Trump supporters trying to paint Biden as inappropriate when there is no shortage of photos of Trump in eyebrow-raising photos with his kids—including one with Ivanka and Eric as kids <a href="https://okmagazine.com/news/donald-trump-introduces-kids-ivanka-eric-pedophile-jeffrey-epstein-photo/" target="_blank">standing next to Jeffrey Epstein</a>—some people shared how a lack of fatherly affection might explain how people see Trump. </p>
<div id="09136" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4d8fed16009c10cc72a5ffb484e5965e"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319232484408774656" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@JHunter65284456 @4everNeverTrump @johncardillo Wow... I think this is true for the female Trump supporters I know, too</div> — Sarah Cooper (@Sarah Cooper)<a href="https://twitter.com/sarahcpr/statuses/1319232484408774656">1603364509.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>Several people suggested that Cardillo sees the photo the way he does because he himself has daddy issues.</p>
<div id="87167" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2a19580c3ffafe30adbe996b95f3ec83"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319095428936290306" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@TheRealHoarse @johncardillo This is definitely a weird way for @johncardillo to admit his daddy never loved him.</div> — TeePope (@TeePope)<a href="https://twitter.com/TeeBall77/statuses/1319095428936290306">1603331832.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>And in one response, Cardillo almost appeared to confirm it, only denying a small, unrelated part of a tweet suggesting he'd been mistreated by his own father. </p>
<div id="db85b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e5704f1636a2ba15a2f79132780de552"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319306100722814978" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">@themusicpimp I’m not Latin</div> — John Cardillo (@John Cardillo)<a href="https://twitter.com/johncardillo/statuses/1319306100722814978">1603382060.0</a></blockquote></div>
<p>The fact that anyone would look a photo of a loving father embracing his son and kissing him on his cheek and think "Ew," is truly sad. </p><p>Unfortunately, we live in a society where men showing affection is viewed negatively by some people, whether due to toxic ideas of masculinity or homophobia or both. We also live in an era of poisonous partisanship that pushes people to view those on the other side of the political spectrum as evil. Combine that with the QAnon conspiracy theorists obsession with pedophilia, and we've ended up with one of the nicest and most decent men in politics being smeared with posts like this. </p><p>Clearly, some people need more parental love in their lives. </p>
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Glenda moved to Houston from Ohio just before the pandemic hit. She didn't know that COVID-19-related delays would make it difficult to get her Texas driver's license and apply for unemployment benefits. She quickly found herself in an impossible situation — stranded in a strange place without money for food, gas, or a job to provide what she needed.
Alone, hungry, and scared, Glenda dialed 2-1-1 for help. The person on the other end of the line directed her to the Houston-based nonprofit Bread of Life, founded by St. John's United Methodist pastors Rudy and Juanita Rasmus.
For nearly 30 years, Bread of Life has been at the forefront of HIV/AIDS prevention, eliminating food insecurity, providing permanent housing to formerly homeless individuals and disaster relief.
Glenda sat in her car for 20 minutes outside of the building, trying to muster up the courage to get out and ask for help. She'd never been in this situation before, and she was terrified.
When she finally got out, she encountered Eva Thibaudeau, who happened to be walking down the street at the exact same time. Thibaudeau is the CEO of Temenos CDC, a nonprofit multi-unit housing development also founded by the Rasmuses, with a mission to serve Midtown Houston's homeless population.
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUyNDg1Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NTQ5MDE1Mn0.0jnGZfz6cTr9rIuYo644sDJftBhj7Dqzg-6olbynoig/img.jpg?width=980" id="db65e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1d9dbe31f21c6ae80223dd1cc11825a5" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@healing_photographer?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Aarón Blanco Tejedor</a> </small></p><p>"I saw a woman walking toward me in a hesitant fashion. I called out to her and admired her Juneteenth t-shirt," Thibaudeau said. Glenda asked her for directions, and they struck up a conversation. After finding out that she was in need, Thibaudeau sprang into action and began making phone calls. A few minutes later, two of her co-workers rounded the corner of St. John's church with a box of household goods, courtesy of Bread of Life.<br></p><p>As they loaded up Glenda's car with essentials, Thibaudeau asked questions and listened intently before inviting her to take a walk together.</p><p>"As [we] walked, she sobbed and shared that she isn't any more deserving than anyone else and she was so grateful for our kindness. I told her that this is what we do and reminded her that she is not alone. Once you find all of us, you have found the Houston Love!" said Thibaudeau. "I put my arm around her and asked, 'What's your name?' We laughed at realizing that we hadn't exchanged names yet. 'Glenda,' she answered. 'I'm Eva and we got you.'"</p><p>This kind of empathy and boundless love is what fuels the work of Pastors Rudy and Juanita Rasmus. By practicing what they preach—literally—they've created a Houston-based network of nonprofit organizations to cover almost every need imaginable.</p><div id="b5433" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e6d0b0f14bcb6f7bb71df55f93e86d71"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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<div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);
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</div></blockquote></div><p>The couple, who have been married for 36 years, light up recalling an event that transformed and refined their mission to serve. Shortly after they first took over the congregation at <a href="https://stjohnsdowntown.org/" target="_blank">St. John's</a>, they arrived at the church to find a homeless man sleeping on the front stoop. Rather than shooing him away, they invited him inside. That, in sum, is what they've been doing ever since: using what they have to help those in need.<br></p><p>"We have an amazing team of compassionate people who really work together to make good happen, and that's what we've been doing for almost 30 years," said Pastor Rudy. "Eva's story is a perfect example of that."</p><p>Bread of Life received an outpouring of support from across the U.S. after <a href="https://www.upworthy.com/texas-pastor-is-redefining-what-it-means-to-love-your-neighbor" target="_self">Upworthy</a> published their story in June 2020, enabling them to begin offering free weekly COVID-19 testing to the residents of downtown Houston. During a time when access to testing was problematic for many Americans, this service undeniably saved a number of lives. Bread of Life serves a primarily homeless population, people with disabilities and no insurance, with a primary goal of reducing homelessness and food insecurity.</p><p>Recently, they've shifted their volunteer efforts to the herculean task of contact tracing and case management, offering yet another invaluable service. They now have an official Mobile COVID Testing Unit, offering completely contact free, mobile testing (note the arm holes in the side)!</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDUyNDg4My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNTI2NzA3OH0.Kgt9hQ52HYvUiM7DVJ9o4JCbHaf5wbpUDp0BGjqi4_U/img.jpg?width=980" id="c7449" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ab8061956f3882567e51a7ed2dec4588" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">Photo courtesy of Rudy Rasmus</small></p><p>Additionally, Bread of Life's partnership with <a href="https://m25m.org/" target="_blank">Matthew:25 Ministries</a> and the <a href="https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/home/" target="_blank">Houston Food Bank</a> means that people who are sick and quarantined at home can now have food delivered. They've also added fresh, frozen meat to their weekly contactless distribution line downtown.<br></p><p>"Meat days are <em>crazy</em>," said Pastor Rudy. "Because people who are experiencing food insufficiency don't have many opportunities to get meat." He calls it "small scale pandemonium."</p><div id="499c1" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="ea8243c74976243fdaacbc5d4de7e064"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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<div style=" background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC);
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CDix9xZDLMu/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
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</div></blockquote></div><p>According to <a href="https://www.pggoodeveryday.com/impact/feeding-america/" target="_blank">Feeding America</a>, an additional 17.1 million Americans will experience food insecurity this year due to impacts from COVID-19, and they need our support now more than ever. In response to this growing problem, Feeding America® and Procter & Gamble have joined forces to bring food and household items to communities hit hardest by the pandemic. Across the U.S., P&G is donating products and personal care kits for distribution through the Feeding America network of food banks.<br></p>What Pastors Rudy and Juanita have accomplished in Houston is a direct result of ordinary people who are willing to do extraordinary things. And you can make a difference too by simply joining <a href="https://www.pggoodeveryday.com/" target="_blank">P&G Good Everyday</a>. By taking action through the website, you can earn rewards by buying products you already know and love. And the best part? P&G will donate to a cause you care about so you can turn your everyday actions into acts of good.
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Bartender explains why he swiftly kicks out Nazis even if they're 'not bothering anyone'
07.14.20
Back in 2017, when white supremacist Richard Spencer was socked in the face by someone wearing all black at Trump's inauguration, it launched an online debate, "Is it OK to punch a Nazi?"
The essential nature of the debate was whether it was acceptable for people to act violently towards someone with repugnant reviews, even if they were being peaceful. Some suggested people should confront them peacefully by engaging in a debate or at least make them feel uncomfortable being Nazi in public.
<p>Others believed that it is totally fine to punch a Nazi.</p><div id="e48ea" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="732cc100b6d9e696d36ca23ee988a9f6"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="822828053483155456" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">"Punch them" is, like, Nazi 101, I don't see the problem here https://t.co/3qc4MkluMe</div> — N*I*C*K (@N*I*C*K)<a href="https://twitter.com/catchdini/statuses/822828053483155456">1485012470.0</a></blockquote></div><p>The question of how to tolerate the intolerant was put beautifully by a philosopher named Karl Popper in 1945.<br></p><p>"Unlimited tolerance must lead to the disappearance of tolerance,"<a href="http://www.openculture.com/2019/03/does-democracy-demand-the-tolerance-of-the-intolerant-karl-poppers-paradox.html" target="_blank"> he wrote. </a>"If we extend unlimited tolerance even to those who are intolerant, if we are not prepared to defend a tolerant society against the onslaught of the intolerant, then the tolerant will be destroyed, and tolerance with them." </p><p>So, basically, if you tolerate the intolerant, the intolerant will eventually wipe out tolerance.</p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/IamRageSparkle" target="_blank">Michael B. Tager, a Baltimore-based writer and Managing Editor of Mason Jar Press, </a>shared a similar scenario on Twitter recently that got a lot of attention. He shared a story of sitting in a punk bar when someone wearing Nazi paraphernalia sat down beside him.</p><p>The punk rock scene has always had to deal with the infusion of Nazi types since its beginnings in the late '70s. Seminal hardcore band Dead Kennedy's expressed their frustration with the interlopers in their 1981 classic, "Nazi Punks Fuck Off."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="00696b3e74b942962bb0b2dc7da049c6"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/iyc62g7YQM0?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Nazi Punks Fuck Off</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyc62g7YQM0" target="_blank">www.youtube.com</a>
</small>
</p><p><br></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/IamRageSparkle/status/1280891537451343873?s=20" target="_blank">In Tager's story,</a> the bartender shows zero tolerance for Nazis even if they're being peaceful and he gave a powerful answer why.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQ1Mzk4MC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMDEyMTgwMH0.OxPOgpZyQjt_FT-BMuO7-vxTf7VwYqGe9xZBE9rWF-k/img.jpg?width=980" id="490f4" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c1389caa652d86e13d31b7dc9cec27e4" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">via Michael B. Tager</small></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQ1Mzk4MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzk3OTY4N30.4Ubnke5Urx0icLTNrtK8FahR8xvmos3dSL1NzZPjwvw/img.jpg?width=980" id="d4806" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1c6abd401d641a59df9a06cbec92cb72" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">via Michael B. Tager</small></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQ1Mzk4Mi9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyODYxMTI4N30.SoreNiwGfWfrcuIHzFGLlfuugzTUCffJrY2UjwxRo0w/img.jpg?width=980" id="5276a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2f9692afb57082590d931b16d4636e0b" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">via Michael B. Tager</small></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQ1Mzk4My9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxNTY3NzExMn0.qQj_8pBtuHGG-o_t03BcZNKkFUDdAi6YFCX_yAga-0Q/img.jpg?width=980" id="c4b7a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a3c598368ba5088bf05c8d53182cd9c9" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">via Michael B. Tager</small></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQ1Mzk4NC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMjQ2NzEyN30.B86BhBmZO07YBoPgsRQPGmkrpE65GnJQ5AAO6RXUgJs/img.jpg?width=980" id="8d14a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c9d003f5b3a9a1bc5749d4cf94eb84c3" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">via Michael B. Tager</small></p><p><br></p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQ1Mzk4NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyMTM2NDU2OH0.SasRhAJvQbqZgOv49U-JvWskJyunL6fdXZCT6pE2ymA/img.jpg?width=980" id="505a9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c53a616d412fc149c00e743fe8e37bfb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">via Michael B. Tager</small></p><p>During the Spanish Civil War, a famous left-wing propaganda poster showing dead children killed by Francisco Franco's Nationalists read: "If you tolerate this, then your children will be next."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMzQ1NDAyNy9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNDQ0MzgzNX0.v1p-Qm8kxdEyZxFJw0wN86gqdqaGMJU8MGoUGgeCWCw/img.jpg?width=980" id="72a44" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="4f3cc6dc95dd3df4f92a7ceff206ade7" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit..."><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/PropagandaPosters/comments/5u0whe/if_you_tolerate_this_your_children_will_be_next/" target="_blank">via Reddit</a></small></p><p>It's a powerful statement that carries importance to this day. If we tolerate intolerant ideologies such as white supremacy, then they will be allowed to flourish. That doesn't mean society has to be violent, but the enemies of tolerance should be pushed to the periphery of society.<br></p><p>Kick them out of your bars, places of worship, social media feed, neighborhood, school grounds, and politics. Once the Nazis are allowed to openly operate in tolerant society, it's going to take a lot more than punching to get them out. </p>
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Two candidates running against each other in Utah made a new ad together about rejecting hate
10.22.20
via Spencer Cox / Twitter
In the middle of a heated election, liberal and conservative Americans are at odds over a lot of issues, but there's one thing they can agree on, they're sick of all the political acrimony.
A 2018 PBS poll found that nearly three-quarters of Americans — 74 percent — think the overall tone and level of civility in the nation's capital have gotten worse since Trump was elected.
Seventy-nine percent are "are concerned or very concerned that the negative tone of national politics will prompt violence."
<p>Many believe that a big reason why Joe Biden has such a<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2020/10/22/biden-leads-trump-in-polls-with-less-than-2-weeks-to-go-in-campaign.html" target="_blank"> commanding lead </a>in the polls is the nation is suffering from<a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/nearly-80-percent-of-americans-concerned-negative-tone-lack-of-civility-will-lead-to-violence-poll-says" target="_blank"> "Trump fatigue." </a></p><p>"I have said this since he was elected," a former GOP member of <a href="https://thehill.com/homenews/the-memo/519053-the-memo-trump-fatigue-spells-trouble-for-president" target="_blank">Congress told The Hill.</a> "This exhaustion, this never-ending drama and chaos ... I think a lot of people are yearning for some kind of normalcy."</p><p>In a rare showing of civility just 14 days before the November 3 election, Republican Spencer Cox and Democrat Chris Peterson, rival candidates for Utah governor, created a joint campaign ads promising to respect the outcome of the presidential race.</p><p>The display was a rare instance of candidates coming together in the middle of an election. </p><p>"We can debate issues without degrading each other's character," Peterson says in one ad. "We can disagree without hating each other," says Cox. "And win or lose, in Utah we work together," says Peterson. "So let's show the country there's a better way," says Cox.</p><div id="4f95a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="a61c9bb340cb18080c1e9ed958ee07b0"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1318537411471708162" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">I’m not sure this has ever been done before...but as our national political dialogue continues to decline, my oppon… https://t.co/UZ2MilTiaZ</div> — Spencer Cox (@Spencer Cox)<a href="https://twitter.com/SpencerJCox/statuses/1318537411471708162">1603198790.0</a></blockquote></div><p>In another ad, the duo pledge to accept the results of the election and to "commit to a peaceful transition of power." Although they didn't mention the president by name, it's a clear repudiation of Trump's campaign to challenge the legitimacy of the 2020 election. </p><p>"We've come together with a message more important than our differences," Cox says in the ad. "That we will fully support the results of the presidential election," adds Peterson. "So Utah can be an example to the nation," added Cox.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="fe3089e355aa122e6b9da06dc2cdcbe8"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UaXPQWpkiIo?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Cox, Peterson call for Utah to support peaceful transition of power</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="Add Photo Credit...">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaXPQWpkiIo&ab_channel=FOX13NewsUtah" target="_blank">www.youtube.com</a>
</small>
</p><p>"The time-honored values of a peaceful transition of power and working with those with whom we differ are an integral part of what it means to be an American," said Peterson in a joint statement with Cox. "It's time to reforge a national commitment to decency and our democratic republic."<br></p><p>The ad is clearly an attempt by both politicians to win points by presenting a positive face at a time when partisan rancor is particularly heated. But there is reason to be a little skeptical of both politicians motives.</p><p><a href="https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/10/19/21523358/poll-governors-race-spencer-cox-leading-chris-peterson" target="_blank">Cox has a huge lead </a>over Peterson in the highly Republican state and loses very little by showing his opponent in a positive light. </p><p>The ad was applauded by Utah Republican senator Mitt Romney, who recently admitted that he didn't vote for President Trump. Romney has been a consistent anti-Trump voice in the senate after winning the seat in 2018. </p><div id="0a26c" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="53e5a89517644c3b3ece09b76561caf1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1318561518884130816" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Applaud this joint effort by @SpencerJCox and @PetersonUtah to promote the Utah values of respect and civil discour… https://t.co/Bj4eQguDqo</div> — Mitt Romney (@Mitt Romney)<a href="https://twitter.com/MittRomney/statuses/1318561518884130816">1603204538.0</a></blockquote></div><p>While it's right to be skeptical of this overt attempt by two politicians to show themselves as beacons of civility in a world gone mad, the important part is that the message has clearly been supported by the American people.<br></p><p>The ads have received tens of thousands of likes on Twitter and have attracted national attention. </p><p>If the polls are correct, we appear to be limping towards the final days of the most divisive presidency in recent American history. Cox and Peterson's ad shows that Americans on both sides of the aisle have a real hunger for a greater sense of civility in our public discourse.</p><p>Let's hope the message is heard loud and clear by leaders throughout the country and wen begin to heal after a viscous four years of partisan bickering.</p>
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